BBC News: Presenters & Rotas

I don't think anyone suggested it was! Personally, I was just interested to see if there was any news about whether he had left the programme or otherwise, as it's not normal for a presenter to vanish from a programme for months. I don't think suggesting he may be on a sabbatical is excessive or invasive.

Bingo:

Not directed at you per say:

I hope If or when etc he does return, if that is the case; people dont jump other people throats for not commenting about why there were not on screen since "Posts should not relate to presenter's personal life/privacy," and we shouldn't know anyways.

'Tis a tricky one, though. I don't think there's anything wrong in a poster asking 'Is there any news on why [x] hasn't been on the TV for months? Has this been reported and I've missed it?' and then a reply saying 'No, there has been nothing in the public domain'.

It's when posts following that go into speculation that there are difficulties. I don't think there's anything wrong in asking initially, though, just in case there is a public domain report that has been missed by the OP.

Again I don't think there was any rule breaking here - this certainly is not one of those cases where people start going into uncomfortable levels of speculation. Merely a question about a missing presenter, with a speculative but non-personal/invasive response. I realise people's concerns after some of the odd discussions in this thread but no need to be over-sensitive.

I agree and my post was supposed to come across as in agreement with yours

These discussions are very hard to get the right balance, especially in this Twitter age, where presenters may choose to present part of their private life to the public. Same goes if they mention something on-air. Is it personal life/privacy if they announce it to the world? Obviously it has to be related to the topic in hand or in relation to a comment being made to argue it.

I think it's natural to show concern, it's human nature but there is excessiveness. Personally I think this was handled very well.

I don't think there's anything wrong with enquiring as to where a presenter has gone to in a professional capacity. It might be that someone has left a broadcaster and the poster wasn't aware of it. In the case of Matthew Amroliwala, a simple "he's on leave at the moment" is not too personal. I mean someone could ring up my work today to be told I'm currently on leave.

What worries me is when people pop up and say the last time so and so presented was on Wednesday 24 August at 2.00pm - that starts to get into the realms of stalking. If I was a presenter, that level of knowledge about one's activities would freak me out. But, someone asking as to my professional whereabouts wouldn't.

Likewise, talking about their family, living arrangements etc would be off limits. You just have to exercise your own judgement. Think "would this freak me out if someone posted this about me?" before you post and I think that's enough.

I'd hate for this to become too draconian - TV Forum has had discussion about presenters since time began. You only have to look at my (horrifically embarrassing) early posts from 2001 as a 15-year old and I was asking about and commenting on presenters all the time. So nothing has changed in that regard. I just think we need to remain within certain boundaries.

I do have to take up point when you claimed its a bit realms of stalking, when someone knows the last time a presenter was last on.

If someone is on regular slot day in day out of course you going notice that person is not around or know when there last on. Im not on about the likes of STV or ITN weekend news, which seems to have roata each month mind.

The point I'm making is that in the case you've described, most people would think "I haven't seen Alastair Stewart for a while". Not "Alastair Stewart hasn't presented since 26th January at 1.30pm". That's the difference in my opinion.

Its a difference of opinion then, but I think its more burled lines

Of course I wouldn't know off by hand when when Juliet dunlop or Chris Ship last read the news, Nor even Alastair Stewart because he on a semi presenting role, and can pop up anywhere, but if it was something very recent with someone more main stream that would also be a bit different.

I get what your meaning why would you know such details, but I know maybe it because I tend to want to work with more facts.

EDIT: Are you on about just bog standard viewers and watchers and not people who keep track of presentation?




IF there announced brought a car, cat or are going on holiday to X y or Z, what that go to do with this thread? It doesnt change much, all that important in relation to this thread is the last part, even then its only about who the temp is.

When its come to knowing when someone last appeared on the news is no different to knowing when Dame edna was last on TV. The people who know that are there fans, if there know what dame Enda or Jon Snow had for dinner last night that pushing the boat out. its all about context.

The rather innocently posted "I hope he's not unwell" line was what led to my post. Sentiments I'm sure we all share but if there is nothing in the public domain to suggest he is unwell, or indeed to explain his absense, then that is when it is none of our business. If he wanted us to know the reason for his absense the information would be out there.

That's a simple enough and reasonable comment. When a major talent disappears for a few months with out a word you tend to think of health issues.